Problems with comcast internet

[Willy5157]

I have Comcast internet. I have a 1-2 1Ghz splitter into the house. 1 goes for the cable tv for the whole house with no problems (no HD) and one line goes to another 1Ghz splitter for a cable modem and tv in one room. It has worked fine for over 2 years but all of a sudden I can only get online by disconnecting that splitter and connecting the cable directly to the modem. Is comcast weakening the signal to force me to upgrade? Would an amplifier solve the problem? They totally suck but they are the only show in town.

[edDV]

I have Comcast internet. I have a 1-2 1Ghz splitter into the house. 1 goes for the cable tv for the whole house with no problems (no HD) and one line goes to another 1Ghz splitter for a cable modem and tv in one room. It has worked fine for over 2 years but all of a sudden I can only get online by disconnecting that splitter and connecting the cable directly to the modem. Is comcast weakening the signal to force me to upgrade? Would an amplifier solve the problem? They totally suck but they are the only show in town.

Complain and insist they fix it. They owe you a free visit. They can even fix this outside your house/apartment.

They need to give you adequate signal level and equalization at the point where the cable enters the house. Inside the house they may charge you.

[Willy5157]

Thanks for the reply. I'll give them a call and see where it gets me.

[lowellriggsiam]

My brother-in-law caused that event for us by not using the right kind of splitter. I used to have to power down the cable modem and then rebbot it. The splitter was the issue.

[Poppa_Meth]

The modem should really be on the first splitter as well. You should have one line from the first splitter to the modem and one line from the first splitter to the next splitter for everything else. You also need to use good quality splitters.

[jagabo]

The cable company can boost the signal that's sent to your house from their box down the street.

[Safesurfer]

Agree with lowellriggsiam, think I'd look at the splitter first before pointing the finger at Comcast (seems a bit paranoid). I had the same problem, replacing the splitter solved it so it had probably just gone bad for some reason.

[Willy5157]

Thanks for all the input. The reason for my distrust of comcast is before their system "upgrade" last year, I got about 15 free HD stations. Now I have 3 extra cable boxes, 3 extra remotes, no HD, can't use my TV remote, can't watch 1 station while recording another..etc. They seem to be nickle and diming me for everything now on top of the semi-annual increase I just got in my bill. I refuse to buy any more services from them. I'll try a new splitter. Would an amplifier work?

[redwudz]

You could use an amplifier, but be aware that they may also amplify the noise (If there is any) in the signal. I'd agree about trying a different splitter first, then if no go, talk to Comcast. I would also agree that your internet modem should be off the first splitter or it could slow down your internet connection.

You might not want to mention you have a second splitter to Comcast as some cable companies want you to add a second cable instead for additional TVs, or charge you extra. But usually the techs they send don't care. I just unplug the extra splitter when they make a service call.

When I dealt with Cox TV/internet, I did have them come out once and check signal levels and it turned out the old cable from their box to the splitter was bad. They replaced that and it worked fine from that time on. The tech strung about 30 extra feet of coax, but cut it off just inside my apartment. I had hoped they would keep it long enough to reach my splitter and TV, but they made it exactly the same length as the old cable. Probably threw away the extra length. I had to go out and buy the extension myself.

The tech did suggest I run my cable modem off the first splitter. I did that and used a distribution amp for my second TV and VCRs.

[Willy5157]

I am running my modem from the first splitter but need to split that to have tv in the room with the modem. It worked fine for 21/2 years that way.

[aedipuss]

i use separate splitters for tv lines. the main cable in goes to a 2 way splitter, one goes to the cable modem the other to a 3 way splitter and another 2 way that services all the tvs.

[Poppa_Meth]

I've had Comcast out to look at an issue in the past and the tech they sent actually gave me the extra splitter and installed them the way her recommended. He didn't care at all how many TVs were on the line.

[jagabo]

Note that each device (cable box, TV, computer video capture card, etc.) causes about a 3 dB drop in signal. If you add too many devices the signal will drop to too low a level. When that happens the cable company has to boost the signal or you have to add an amp.

[olyteddy]

go to http://192.168.100.1/ in your browser. See the tab marked 'signal'? Post the power levels here (upstream and downstream). Also post the model number (that might be on the 'help' tab).

[Willy5157]

Thanks for all the replies. A tech came out today and replaced the line to that room...problem solved. He said that comcast is always narrowing the specs on the signal and these problems pop up all the time. There is less wiggle room.

[Beavis]

You might not want to mention you have a second splitter to Comcast as some cable companies want you to add a second cable instead for additional TVs, or charge you extra. But usually the techs they send don't care. I just unplug the extra splitter when they make a service call.

Of course, now that they've gone all digital there isn't much one can get in many areas without some type of company logged device on every TV, etc. you use.

[sum_guy]

Netflix is now a bigger company than Comcast, pray for a buy-out or hostile take over.

[jagabo]

Netflix is now a bigger company than Comcast, pray for a buy-out or hostile take over.

No, Netflix now has more subscribers than Comcast. Comcast is still a much bigger company.

Netflix market cap (ttm): $12.4B, revenue $2.4B, gross profit $0.8B
Comcast market cap (ttm): $74.1B, revenue $37.9B, gross profit $22.7B

Netflix will not be buying Comcast in the near future.

[aedipuss]

i f'ing wish someone would buy comcast. fricking worst isp yet and i've been through mediaone, roadrunner, att, and now comcast with the same cable line from the pole. they just suck.

[edDV]

Netflix will not be buying Comcast in the near future.

Netflix is dancing out on the edge of P/E ratios but some think they'll keep going up. Their main advantage is inclusion on Blu-Ray, media players and increasingly HDTV sets, not computers. Their expansion plans mainly point international. Their nay sayers dobt they wiill succeed at that.

Even if the stock keeps going up, I can't recommend you buy the stuff.

As for me, I'm not buying. Someday NFLX will be the perfect short.

[zoobie]

I think Netflix will lose a lot more than they think when the USPS stops Saturday delivery. Perhaps that's why they've been pushing instant viewing.
Last I heard, Comcast was the 14th worst company in the USA...